IMO he falls just short of ATG But on his best day he could give most ATGS a whole world of trouble. Just because MAB may have held his number doesnt automatically mean everyone else does
Hamed was too lazy and conceited to have ATG potential. Somebody who was completely and utterly in love with his power and who never had the work ethic and dedication to work on his own existing and glaring flaws. You can only go so far with your power. He had a very good career, made a huge impact on the sport and made a shitload of money in the process.
He was a great fighter, ridiculously high talent level, unified a division, became linear champ, beat about 10 champions. Lost 1 fight but most ATGs have worse losses.
The key word is 'potential'. Who knows what he could have accomplished if his head and hands were kept in good health. We really only got a glimpse of what could've been. That said, he didn't do too badly for himself. Some good names on his record, some spectacular KOs, dominated his division for around five years, never knocked out, and only lost one fight - and that was to an ATG.
He was too lazy and conceited. Most all time greats are haunted in their private moments by the fear that someone is going to find their weakness and exploit it. It drives them to run more miles, dig deeper into themselves, sweat harder. I read somewhere that by the time Hamed fought Barrera he had virtually given up on road work because he thought he didn't need it and could just spar a few more rounds. He had incredible natural ability - he never had the psychology.
If Hamed followed Steward's advise and trained properly he would have beat Barerra. Hamed had the goods, the talent and the charisma. Very entertaining, beast H2H, and probably the most powerful at feather. ATG imo. Unification and linear champ goes a long way.
Biggest mark isn't so much that he got schooled by Barrera, but that he packed up his toys and took them home when he got exposed. If he had continued to fight after his first defeat and racked up some good wins on the backside of his career (and I realize he had a farewell fight against a hand-picked patsy) -- regardless of whether he had avenged the Barrera defeat or not -- then he might be considered ATG-worthy. Basically he got beat and he quit. He was under 30 years old and had a few good years left to build a resume but he clearly knew he had been exposed and there were more azzwhoopings to come if he carried on.
